Article

A randomized controlled experimenter-blinded studyObjective: To evaluate ambulatory function and leg muscle thickness after whole
body vibration training in children with cerebral palsy.
Design: A block
randomized controlled trial with two groups. Setting: Physical therapy department
laboratory. Subjects: A total of 30 (15 experimental, mean (SD) age 10.0 (2.26)
years and 15 control, 9.6 (2.58)) children with cerebral palsy,
15 males and 15
females. Interventions: The experimental group underwent whole body vibration
training combined with conventional physical therapy training; the control group
underwent conventional physical therapy training three days a week for eight
weeks respectively. Main outcome measures: Three-dimensional gait analyses and
ultrasonographic imaging of the leg muscles were measured at pre- and post-test
of intervention for eight weeks. Results: Whole body vibration training resulted
in significantly better gait speed (P = 0.001, from 0.37 (0.04) m/s to 0.48
(0.06)), stride length (P = 0.001, from 0.38 (0.18) m to 0.48 (0.18)) and cycle
time (P = 0.001, from 0.85 (0.48) s to 0.58 (0.38)) in the experimental group
compared with that in the control group. The ankle angle (P = 0.019, from 7.30
(4.02) degree to 13.58 (8.79)) also showed a remarkable increase in the
experimental group, but not the hip (P = 0.321) and knee angle (P = 0.102). The
thicknesses of the tibialis anterior (P = 0.001, 0.48 (0.08) mm to 0.63 (0.10))
and soleus (P = 0.001, 0.45 (0.04) mm to 0.63 (0.12)) muscles were significantly
higher in the experimental group than in the control group. However, no
significant effect was observed in the thickness of the gastrocnemius muscle (P =
0.645). Conclusions: These findings suggest that whole body vibration may improve
mobility in children with cerebral palsy, probably through a positive effect on
the leg muscles.

Langue : ANGLAIS